Screw due process: Ron Fournier says to “stop the whataboutism and defend every woman”

OK, we have to back up a few steps before we get to journalist Ron Fournier’s tweet, but it all begins with the very valid complaint that Democrats and the mainstream media have said and done virtually nothing about some very credible sexual abuse charges leveled at DNC vice deputy chair Keith Ellison.

“I believe her. I’m just not going to mention it except when forced to because that would make Democrats uncomfortable. Now let’s go back to talking about how bad Republicans are” https://t.co/wbIm9TmD6f

Upholding the standards of due process doesn’t mean you don’t believe someone. It means you believe every person gets his/her day in court. This thinking is utterly obscene. This isn’t a banana republic, Ron. We have standard procedures. https://t.co/enTAVqXesf

There is no firm basis for believing her. But despite lack of evidence, it is also unjust to declare her a liar. “Defend every woman” is an offense against logic and morality. “Honestly and thoroughly assess every accusation” is the only way to go.

What does "defend every woman" even mean? It's a meaningless platitude. Should we defend the woman who tried to ruin the Duke Lacrosse players' lives? The one that made up accusations about the UVa fraternity? Should we defend those women?

"Whataboutism" is often used as a dodge by people on the left who want to hold on to the partisan focus handed them by the media. We're only talking about THIS allegation! Stop the whataboutism! But there's nothing wrong with using other, similar cases as a benchmark.

Anyone who says Trump should be impeached but who doesn't also have a firm opinion about Juanita Broaddrick and Bill Clinton is just a partisan using the weapon at hand. What some dismiss as "whataboutism" is often a valuable sincerity test.